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President's Message

There’s a commercial on television in which a cast of little kids are asking, “Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?” Perhaps you have seen it. Well, whether you have seen the commercial or not, I have to ask, Are you ready -- for the MSUG Annual All-Day Conference that is?

The MSUG Annual All-Day Conference is only a couple of weeks away, Wednesday, November 1 to be exact. Is your Steering Committee ready? You bet. They have prepared an outstanding program for this year. The theme of this year’s Conference is The Future of Simulation.  

At last year’s annual conference, you indicated you liked the panel discussion. Well, this year, we have expanded the panel and MSUG will be host to several key figures in the simulation industry. We will be exploring where each simulation software company is taking their product in the future (you need to be thinking about questions to ask them to keep the panel discussion lively). We will be exploring advanced uses of simulation through lively presentations. New to this year will be a vendor face-off, a product shootout of the best of the simulation software companies. Vendors will be handed a simulation problem at the conference, sight unseen, to solve in front of the membership. This will be an open-forum event and you will be free to roam the hall and watch experts in each simulation software package solve the problem. The vendors will present their solutions to the problem at the conclusion of the face-off. I hope they are ready.  

So, if you are not ready, you better get ready. Plan to attend the MSUG All-Day Conference, November 1st, at the Michigan State University Conference Center, 811 West Square Lake Road, Troy, Michigan. This year’s All-Day Conference promises to be one of the best.  

See you there.

Dan Doss, President

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Michigan Simulation Users Group
Annual Conference

November 1, 2000

Agenda
 

9:00 – 9:05 Opening Remarks from the President

9:05 – 9:50 Keynote Speech

9:50 – 10:00 Break

10:00 – 10:30 Presentation #1

10:30 – 11:00 Presentation #2

11:00 – 11:30 Presentation #3

11:30 – 1:00  Lunch / Vendor Displays

1:00 – 1:15 Vendor “Face-off” definition

1:15 – 2:00 “Face-off” Competition / Observation

2:00 – 2:15 Gather results / Break

2:15 – 3:00 Present results of Competition

3:00 – 4:00  Panel discussion – “Future of Simulation”

4:00 – 5:00  Vendor Displays

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Editorial Content

Your Editor welcomes readers' comments as fuel for a "Letters to the Editor" column!
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West Michigan General Membership Meeting

On August 9th, MSUG held its general membership meeting in Grand Rapids at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Approximately 25 attendees enjoyed two excellent presentations on simulation activities taking place on the west side of the state. John Gibbons from Alvey Integrated Business Solutions in Grand Rapids spoke about a material handling application of simulation. In this application, simulation was successfully used to examine different strategies for moving pallets off a main conveyor line to an off-line palletizer where the pallets were stretch-wrapped. Eight different material handling configurations were examined and simulation was used to determine which configuration would work best. This application was for a midwest consumer goods manufacturer.
 
In the second presentation, Professor Charles Standridge from the Padnos School of Engineering at Grand Valley State University gave an excellent presentation on his use of simulation in examining logistics/transportation issues relating to the production of petroleum-based products for a global oil company. Interesting aspects of this application included the use of continuous simulation in combination with discrete-event simulation and the use of no animation for this particular application. Professor Standridge also discussed the engineering program at GVSU, which is interesting in that undergraduate students do not graduate until they complete a TRULY SUCCESSFUL real-world application of engineering.
 
Following the presentations, approximately 15 to 20 people enjoyed dinner at Noto’s Restaurant, courtesy of The Lanner Group. Lanner also sponsored the MSUG meeting and covered the cost of the meeting room and the food and beverages for the meeting. MSUG is truly appreciative of this support from Lanner and Mike Smith, their regional sales manager! (It should be reiterated though that MSUG maintains a strictly neutral perspective on simulation vendors and any sponsorship of MSUG events, while greatly appreciated, should not be viewed as a product or vendor endorsement on behalf of MSUG.)
Eric Haan, West Michigan
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Schedule of Meetings and Events

The schedule for remaining meetings during 2000 is summarized in the table below:

 

Meeting
Date
Time
Location
All-day Conference
1-Nov-00
8:00-4:00
MSU - Troy
Steering Committee
13-Nov-00
12:00-2:00
PMC1
 
1Detailed directions available from Susan Khoubyari, 313-441-4460 extension 1171.
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Steering Committee Meeting Minutes, 2-Oct-00

Date:  10/2/00
To:  MSUG Steering Committee
From:  Eric V. Cetlinski
Subject: Steering Committee Meeting Minutes – 10/2/00
The following is a brief summary of the MSUG Steering Committee meeting that took place at CSI in Troy on Monday, October 2, 2000. The meeting was attended by the following:

Eric Cetlinski, Randy Combs, Dan Cook, Dan Doss, Susan Khoubyari, Lou Sahr, Bucky Strong, Ed Williams, Haiping Xu

Meeting Agenda

· All day conference review – theme, keynote, schedule, presentation, panel, face-off, vendor displays, facilities, etc.
· Nominations for Steering Committee Membership of 2001. Solicit members by email for nominations.
· Confirm Steering Committee member terms – who rolls off, who stays for how long.
· All day conference. Who pays, how much, and for what? Members, Vendors, Keynote, Speakers, etc. Document it.
· Registrations and billings for vendor displays.
· Presentation papers – due date = Oct 23.

· Presentation and/or conference evaluations.

· Munchies at conference – suggestion = Danish/rolls/bagels with coffee and juice for registration and morning break – pop and cookies for afternoon break.

· Registration form on web site.

Open Discussion

All day conference review:

Announcement format, registration form and timing to be prepared by Dan. Registration still possibly to be handled by Cindy. 2 presenters still needed.  Will solicit general membership for presenters.

Schedule was agreed upon and will be sent out by Randy.

Panel discussion to include Hulinder (Taylor), Rockwell (Arena), Roherr (ASI), Cosen (Witness), Keller (?).

Vendor face off problem defined and ready to go.

Vendor displays. Lanner signed up. No others signed up and will cost them $200.

After October 13th, membership dues go from $50 to $70.

Dan and Haiping have finalized facility issues for all day conference. Randy will have signs developed directing traffic flow and MSUCC. Large “MSUG” sign to be developed by Dan.

Who pays what? One or multiple vendor participants get only one conference entrance fee.

Munchies discussed and agreed upon and will be the same as last year.

Registration will be put on web site by Bucky.

Nominations for Steering Committee: Lou rolls off. Dan Cook and Haiping Xu are re-nominated. Bucky and Lou positions need nominees. Joe Hugan, Mike Smith and Cal Mabrouk will be nominated.

News articles for next newsletter due by November. Suggestions… Solicit articles (technical in nature) from vendors. Letters to the editors.

Ed will be webmaster above Raki in place of Bucky.

Evaluation forms will be implemented again at all day conference.

Eric Cetlinski, Secretary

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MSUG Meeting Sponsors Policy

As mentioned in our steering committee meeting minutes, the steering committee voted to allow sponsorship of MSUG general membership meetings. Honorable mention will be made to sponsors for their support to MSUG. No "sales pitches" will be permitted for that privilege.
 
Anyone interested in sponsoring our general meetings should contact our Facilities Chairperson (Haiping Xu, contact information at left) or other steering committee member for further details.
 
Randy Combs, Speakers
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Call to Simulation Service Providers

The MSUG Web site is under construction and we are adding a new area for simulation service providers. We will have the name of the company and a link to their web site. If you are a simulation service provider who would like to be added to our web site, or know of one, please initiate arrangements through Edward Williams, Newsletter Editor ewillia4@ford.com.
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MSUG Annual Conference Software Vendor Face-Off

This year's November 1, 2000 MSUG Conference will host a "Face-off" event for vendors of discrete-event simulation software. All participants will be provided the same modeling challenge to see who can respond the quickest with the most comprehensive answer. The event will challenge all levels of discrete-event simulation (fast and detailed). Obviously, we can't disclose the nature of the modeling event in detail. However, all vendors interested in participating will want to bring their modeling wizards and hyperfast hardware. That's all you need to participate!
Hope to see you there to showcase your product(s)! Inquiries to Randy Combs (contact information at left).
 
Randy Combs, Speakers
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Call for Presentations

Your Programs chair on the MSUG steering committee eagerly and urgently invites presentation submissions for the general membership meetings on November 1. Please send one-paragraph summaries to Susan Khoubyari (contact information at left).
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Report on Simulation Solutions 2000

The Michigan Simulation User Group (MSUG) was started in January, 1993 by a group of simulationists from the Detroit area. Now, in its eighth year of existence, MSUG sets a good example of what most of us need: a forum for exchanging ideas with, and learning from, our fellow simulationists. During the last eight years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Simulation Conferences. Many of these new conferences are product centered, and only serve a purpose for those people who use the specific product(s) provided by the host company. On the other hand, they are not a good forum for all simulationists (if you don’t use product X, why are you going to attend their conference).
In March, I was lucky enough to attend the IIE-sponsored 2nd annual Simulation Solutions Conference. This conference was very reminiscent of my previous experience with MSUG. There were many application-oriented presentations and simulation skills oriented presentations that allowed me to gain more wisdom about how I can better apply simulation technology. There were many opportunities outside of the actual presentations where people were able to discuss the challenges they encounter as simulationists. They were then able to get new ideas from other simulationists on how to deal with these challenges. For those people who were lucky enough to be heavily involved in organizing this conference, they were able to gain even more wisdom because of the higher interaction level they had with other simulationists. 
The day after the conference ended, I received the following comments from one of the attendees (this individual has attended many simulation conferences):
There are several characteristics of SimSol that I think are great, including:   
These comments capture the most important aspect of this conference in that it was a great place to exchange ideas and gain wisdom from your fellow simulationists (plus we had a lot of fun).
Khaled Mabrouk, President, The Model Builders
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Winter Simulation Conference Report

Attendance at the Winter Simulation Conference, held in Phoenix, Arizona December 5-8, 1999, was an exciting, instructive experience. The conference comprised special Sunday afternoon tutorials, a Ph.D. colloquium, a poster session, a keynote address (The Use of Simulation in Call Center Optimization by Dr. Jon Anton of Purdue University), twelve concurrent tracks (I was track co-ordinator of the Manufacturing Application track), an exhibit hall, and vendor-user meetings Tuesday evening. Attendance was high -- well over 700.
The next Winter Simulation Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida; December 10-13, 2000. More information is available at their web site (actual web address http://www.wintersim.org).
Edward Williams, Senior Technical Specialist, Ford Motor Company
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2000 WITNESS© Simulation Users Association Conference

Witness Simulation Users Association 2000

 
The 2000 WITNESS© Simulation Users Association Conference was recently held at the Marriott Eagle Crest Resort in Ypsilanti, Michigan on September 13-14.
 
Attendees were treated to a series of valuable presentations from industry leaders, including Ford, Motorola, General Motors, Valiant International, EDS, Modeling, and AVCA Corporation, to name just a few. With presentations on a wide variety of topics, the conference had something to offer for everyone, from beginners to advanced simulators. Applications ranged from presentations to on manufacturing and supply chain logistics to customer service and e-business. Highlights included two full days of WITNESS 2000 upgrade training classes. Lanner consultants were available throughout the whole conference to help and serve. Conference surveys confirmed that attendees found the conference very valuable and insightful.
 
Randy Combs, program chairman of WSUA, said, “I was very pleased by the turnout and what a great job Lanner did putting the program together. I look forward to next year’s event to welcome new members and visit old acquaintances.”

 

Lanner is currently planning WSUA 2001 and will be announcing the location soon. For the latest information, please visit the users site at www.witnessusers.org.

Virginia Samuel, Lanner Group Incorporated

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Help Wanted Adlets

Policy: These help wanted adlets are free to MSUG members, but they do not have "inertia." They must be renewed for each issue via e-mail to the Newsletter editor.

  1. CKGP & Associates seeks simulation, IE, Paint, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Conveyor, and CAD expertise. Please submit credentials to:
Karl V. Groth, Senior Project Engineer
CKGP & Associates, a division of RDS
31333 Southfield Road
Beverly Hills, Michigan 48025-5440
Telephone 248-642-7970; fax 248-642-1303 or 248-642-8927
Web site http://www.ckgp.com
Email groth@ckgp.com
  1. Design Systems, Incorporated solicits simulation expertise. Please submit credentials to:
Cindy Schiess
38799 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 200
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Fax: 248-489-4321 Email cschiess@dsi-solutions.com
  1. Production Modeling Corporation has openings in the areas of discrete-event and robotics simulation, and Industrial, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering. Please submit credentials to:
Susan Khoubyari
Production Modeling Corporation
3 Parklane Boulevard, Suite 1006W
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
Email susan@pmcorp.com
Fax 313-441-6098
Web site http://www.pmcorp.com 
  1. The Model Builders is recruiting simulation engineers and project managers. Contact information is:
Khaled Mabrouk
The Model Builders
321 South Main, Suite 201
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Phone: 734-998-5560
Fax: 734-998-5561
Email KhaledMB@cs.com
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Position Wanted Adlets

Policy: These position wanted adlets are free to MSUG members, but they do not have "inertia." They must be renewed for each issue via e-mail to the Newsletter editor.

  1. I have some résumés of recent graduates I recommend available.
Edward Williams, 313-592-2374. 
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